Bucs DT Moore took playing for granted

Following up on yesterdays post about Raheem Morris wanting to count on Dre Moore, but isn’t ready to put his eggs in Moores’ basket just yet, Moore confirms, what the rest of us fanatics have already thought, that he indeed did drop the ball last season when given a chance to compete for an active roster spot. But this time around he is ready to show the team that he has worked hard last season and this off-season to come into camp in better shape and show what he has learned with his second chance.

“I didn’t prove myself last year,” said Moore, who is listed at the same weight but is clearly much lighter. “They gave me a chance. I dropped the ball. This gives me another opportunity to show them the work I did last year and the work I did in the offseason to prove myself.

“I’ve got a year under my belt,” he said. “(I’m better) all around. The quality, the approach to the game, I’ve got more self confidence. It’s a new year, a new staff, a new Dre.”

“I was hoping for a chance to prove myself then but it didn’t work out that way,” Moore said. “But it was a learning experience. It made me a better person, a better player.”

“I guess I can say, I took (playing) for granted,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. What I learned was how to approach it as a professional and to bring my lunch pail to work.” Source: TheLedger.com

Moore is not the only defensive tackle fighting to prove himself this season, former fifth round pick Greg Peterson has bulked up to around 310 pounds in hopes the added weight will help him in the news scheme. Robert Nunn who worked with coach Bates in Green Bay, has been brought in to give the younger interior lineman a dedicated position coach in the hopes that the one on one teachings will pay big dividends this coming season.

In Other News:

Morris pleased with rookie mini camp, as the team concluded the three day festivity on a high.

“I’m real satisfied with the way camp ended and the way it went,” said Morris. “I got a chance to see our draft picks and free agents, and some bodies come in and try to play. That was fun to do. You saw Tampa, Florida getting to them a little bit with the sun and heat. I got a chance to see them workout and run around, and tell them what to do when they go home to prepare for when they get back here. I am feeling really good about the camp.” Source: PewterReport.com

According to PewterReport.com, the Buccaneers will receive a fifth round pick IN 2010 from the Patriots in exchange for TE Alex Smith.

QB Josh Freeman pleased with his progress, but heading home to get better acquainted with his new playbook.

“I think I did well,” said Freeman. “This camp was all about getting a basic grasp of the offense as far as just verbiage, stepping in the huddle and saying a play with confidence and understanding the concepts. A lot of the protection stuff we didn’t really get into, but we got a basic understanding of how it works. I think it was a good start.”

“Being the first pick, a lot of people have their questions about me,” said Freeman. “I’m going to go back home – I can’t be here, but I’m definitely going to stay in touch with [quarterbacks coach Greg Olson] and study my playbook so that I’m up to speed when we’re with the veterans. Working hard is the bottom line. If I can work hard in the weight room and the film room that will prove a lot to a lot of people.” Source: PewterReport.com